Alessandro Cernuzzi

I was born in Italy but I've been living in Iceland since 2006. Before moving here I studied guitar and electric guitar, playing with few bands. Those projects never really reached the point of a more serious and professional state, so I began planning to find out more about myself, what I wanted and how I could grow up and reach my goals. After a trip to Iceland in 2005 I decided to move there the very next year, enchanted by the beauty of the country and its people. So enchanted that now I have a family of my own here, and a 2 years old boy :) 

It's here, in Iceland, that I discovered passion for classical music, opera and theater. I have been studying classical singing, composition and live performance in this country since 2007.

I've always loved to listen and play music, performing publicly or just within my home's walls. It's

something that somehow was and still is always present in my life. I do not consider music just a

form of entertainment, but a much deeper form of art and culture, a representation of our dearest

feelings and thoughts. Music helped me in my saddest moments and brought joy and friendship as

well. However my music studies took a very wide and interesting turn when I moved to Iceland.

My experience during the Bachelor degree in classical singing and my Master studies in composition at the Icelandic academy of the arts LHÍ has opened many new doors into my interests and passions. I significantly increased my knowledge in music and that brought me to grow not only as a performer and composer, but also as a human being. Studying is an amazing way to keep my mind active and “alive”, maintaining  the necessary excitement for a healthy and happier life.

My experiences working with Íslenska Óperan was a dream becoming  true. Working as a

professionist gave me an incredible sense of achievement and I felt I finally had a purpose. It gave

me more energies to move forward in my studies.

I'm never afraid of working hard and I particularly enjoy taking challenges that can help me mature.

I find team work fun and important. Even though I'm very independent and tend to solve

my own problems, I find working in a team an essential part into artistic maturity. It's something

that creates positive energy and confidence to perform in a much more enjoyable and beautiful way.

Through the years I reached a satisfying knowledge of improvisation and ability to incorporate my

own ideas within the team, still maintaining an open mind to embrace other people's wishes. I'm

quite good at recognizing other artist's skills and try to learn from that.

In my work and fields I guarantee my professional commitment and hard work, I always put passion even in the smallest of the tasks.

I have ideas and projects that are already in progress, such as writing an opera and ideas for movies

soundtrack. I have recently developed an interest in conducting. As a composer, I found out that conducting my own music is the best way to interact with other musicians in order to improve my knowledge of each instrument and my writing abilities. During my Master studies I have developed great interest in teaching music and I'm working to built up experience and skills.

Being an artist is a privilege that not many can afford to seek and we must use this privilege wisely. An artist is also a researcher, contributing to the enrichment of human culture and to the ability of developing new ideas based on knowledge. And so we must use this privilege with respect and commitment, for “Imagination, not intelligence, made us humans” (cit. Terry Pratchett).

Best regards,

Alessandro Cernuzzi

Music theory. I have a white board which I use to explain topics and make graphical representation of music theory in real time, on camera. Lessons will end with home assignments that must be completed in order to continue to the next topic. I am quite strick on that.

I have access to an electric piano, which we can use to combine music theory with practical pitch training examples. A metronome, books and scans are also available. 

Classical singing. I'm a bass baritone, I tend to teach students with middle to low vocal range. However, there are many aspects of a singer that are common to everyone: relaxation, posture, resonance,  opening of the vocal tract. We will explore the best exercises, warm up, suitable pieces, and many other aspects of the use of the voice.

Currently I have planned my availability for the summer, I will add more for the autumn and winter when I'll get my Master schedule.

As a composer I believe that music theory is a fundamental part of the human education. It is indeed a complete language that we can use to give body to our thoughts, emotions, ideas. However, teaching music has to be done with passion, attention to details and, most importantly, a teacher must grow up with the students and make sure that music is thought in a healthy way. Music students are too often driven away by lack of understanding and connection between teacher and student. 

As my father used to say, no matter what you do, do it with care. In becoming a teacher I want to contribute to the enrichment of culture and, possibly, give away a happier sense of achievement.